SELEUCUS

The heaven with wrathful eyes our actions views As it towards us that high disdain does bear, Lo all men's heads are heavy for evil news, And though we know not what, yet still we fear. For since the widowed world does want a head, Each member now does labour to be chief: Which while they diverse ways the body lead, May a beginning give t'an endless grief. Some Like the fool that thunder feigned Like Jove, Would make their same Like Alexanders found: And to bring others low, or t'be above, Would either govern all, or all confound. Then some vain wits that only would seem wise, While by preposterous fancies being deceived, Do every thing that is not theirs despise, And perish would, or them another saved. A number too that all things do content, What each one thinks, are still resolved to do: They make a choice, then do the choice repent, And strait repent of that repentance too. The public weal is spoi'ld by private Hope's, While many thus the highest honour claim: This variance gives their fancies freest scopes, Its best to fish within a troubled stream. See how dissension hath dissolved so soon, All kind of order and confusion brought: This discord hath our council quite undone, While one would have done all, all have done nought. Though that Perdicca's (as it would have seemed) As being devoted to the sacred blood: Sought (by that means more virtuous to b'esteem'd) His Princes honour, and his Countries good. Yet having his companions in contempt, He sought by subtle means himself advance, And so to shadow his disguised attempt, Aimed at imperial place as but by chance. He care pretends that none unborn beguile, As by the heavens for orphans weal reserved: Yet wanting of a King nought but the style; He would not want that when occasion served. And Meleager with the Like respect, To cross Perdicca's counterfeits a love To bastatd Philips right, though in effect, His purpose is but th'others to disprove. And so providing, that his enemy fail, He cares not much what Emperor they proclaim: And his design with many may prevail, The cloak of right apparrells any claim. They whose descent their titles does disclose, Being born in possibility to reign, Must be preferred by reason unto those, That of all right without the bounds remain. The furious footmen insolently stout, Bent to maintain a title, braved our band: And indignation thundering threatenings out, Would with our blood have died this barbarous land. Oh what indignity would this have been, While those that we subdued with such great toils, Had in this sort their victor's vanquished seen, And without pain possess their spoilers spoils. Thus darkening all that we had done before, (Our swords being stained by ignominious wounds) We of our conquests could have kept no more, But burials base (if those) in enemies bounds. Oh what excellency consists in one, More than in many as witnesses this hour! Some with a word or look does more alone, Than thousands joined with policy and pour. When squadrons armed with ensigns all displayed, As those that of their Prince all reverence lost, His generous course to-have obstinately stayed, Did best t'abandon him when busied most. Then of disorder yielding bitter fruits, They boldly marched before imperial tent, And charged their sovereign with unlawful suits, As t'innouations violently bent. They by no band of duty more detained, First grudgde, grew factious next, then rebels plain: Like waters by industrious means restrained, Which if their dams once break forth floods do rain. But of th'vntainted tipe of matchless worth, Whom imitate none may, all must admire: Through joust disdain when fury sparkled forth, Th'astonish'd troops all trembling did retire. His stately countenance calmed tumultuous sounds, Lightning forth majesty through clouds of wrath: That even as if his words had given them wounds, They prostrated themselves expecting death. Those lofty bands that were of late so proud, That they disdained t'attend their Emperors will: Then by his sighed being at and instant bowed, Did beg for licence but to tarry still. And yet what wonder though he won all hearts, That to his sacred presence did repair, With that accomplishment of virtuous parts, As large in him, as in all others rare. While when we come to meet as each man sees, In this maimed state bent t'entertaine some life, Still having in contempt all our decrees, The soldiers are not stayed from civil strife. And who can call that valorous Prince to mind, That any reverence unto virtue bears: But he must be constrained, or prove unkind, To offer up a tribute of some tears. Fame to mine ears by diverse tongues did bring, T'a danger huge how you were once exposed, But specifide not each particular thing, Which by your self I long to hear disclosed. How? But by treason as his custom is, False at the first, and cruel at the end. Antigonus was at the first afraid, To match Eumenes by plain force in fight: And the refuge that fear affords assaide, For valour frank bent use some wary sleight. Amongst Eumenes troops, their minds to prove He scattered letters with allurements stored: By promised treasures, and protested love, To move some one that might betray his Lord. But he being wise, his troops in time advised, To clear their virtue by their enemies vice: And gave them thanks that would not be enticed, To fell their faith at such a bloody price. Then said, that author of those scrolls was he, That when they spied such practises again, They still would take them always but to be, Their Captains trial, not their enemies train. Thus by the means that should have him entrapped, His adversary did deluded stay: For both he from the present danger scaped, And to prevent the Like prepared a way. Then when this traitorous policy had failed, And that there had some doubtful conflicts passed: Antigonus that had at one prevailed, As having had some vantage at the last: He with Eumenes did procure to speak, And as one vanquished offered him goodwill: But he whose mind could not be brought to break, Would never talk but as his e vall still. For when a band between them made, did bear That he to Antigonus should help impart, He did reform that form, and would first swear, With Alexanders offspring to take partly. Thus where they his submission did attend, Imperiously conditions he imposed: So that there after to procure his end, Still th'other by all means his mind disposed. And shortly of his bans a vain debate, For his confusion fit occasion brought: Still, as small things by concord do grow great. By discord great things are reduced to nought, to Eumenes while he fortunately lived, That th'haugh tie Agiraspides gave place, With him for state two of their captains strived. And would not his authority embrace. Such was that spite of theirs to have him spoiled, That though of valour he rare wonders proved, And oft by force Antigonus had foiled, Yet from their mind it could not be removed: For being by them allured all th'other bands, To get some baggage that they lost again, Did give their captain bound to enemies hands, So darkening all their glory by one stain. And though Eumenes trusting to new Hope's, By flying laboured a relief to-have found, He was prevented by his traitorous troops. And Like to some base fugitive was bound, Scarce could his stormy stomach bent to break, Deign then t'entreate those that had him betrayed, Yet having hardly purchased leave to speak, He stretched them forth his fettered hands and said; Lo here apparel that your General wears, Since with your faith his liberty was lost: Yet he those bans not given by enemy bears, But by his own in whom he trusted most. And must he thus be led that should you lead? Is this the triumph that I should receive, For all my victories thus to be made, Of captain, captive, of a conqueror, slave? How oft (my soldiers) have you all of late, To me by solemn oaths sworn to be true? But it becomes not one in a'abiect state, With lofty words his Masters to pursue. Nor crave I further favour at this hour, Then strait to bath your weapons in my breast; Let not my life be in mine enemies pour, Lo all that your commander does request. Antigonus does take no care, get my body, so he get my head: A worser he regards not, neither when, nor where, No in what sort I die, so I be dead. But if through horror of so vile a deed, Your eyes look down, your hair erected stands, Which in your minds this much remorse does breed, That with your hearts you will not stain your hands: Then as your captain, since not force I may, I'll as your friend entreat, that now in time I may but have a sword, my self to slay, So you excuse while partner of your crime. But when he saw that words could not assuage Their barbarous thoughts, that nothing could control: Then having turned his courage all in rage, He thus flamed forth the fury of his soul. Oh damned rascals, that have lost all faith, Whom neither duty nor yet merit binds: How oft was Alexander moved to wrath By those your mutinous and malicious minds? And, Oh what could I at those hands attend, That yet were smoking with Perdicca's blood; Of those that by Like treason did intend, With old Antipaters to-have been imbrued? Heaven thunder on you from th'aetheriall rounds, And make you live a'abominable band; Base vagabonds, barred from your native bounds, Then die detested in a barbarous land. And as you have the world with murder filled, So may your blood by the same swords be shed: By which you have more of your captains killed Than of your foes, from whom Like beasts ye fled. But neither courteous, nor outrageous words Could change his soldiers from their first intent, That forward led their captain chained with cords, A sacrifice prepared for enemies tent; Where being arriude, to th'end he soon might end, He asked what stayed Antigonus to go, By setting of him free to win a friend, Or by his death to rid him of a foe. And straight Antigonus did haste his fallen, By this great magnanimity, not moved: And the Agiraspides dispersed over all, As murderers murder from the world removed. Thus oft have traitors been dispatchde by time, By those whom their upbraiding looks dismay: For the remembrance thus of authors crime, Can but by actors death be wiped away. Now claims Antigonus when fame does feast, In rank above his sovereigns self to fit: For Alexander did subdue all east, And he hath conquered them that conquered it. What hinders us our fortune now to try?, And for a diadem our cares t'engage? Those bent minds that aim at greatness still, Grown popular by Army to be praised: Do wind themselves in every men goodwill, And would seem humble that they may be raised. What counterfeited friends seal trustless bans, While in the general cause that each pretends, Though never joining hearts, all join their hands, And work one way, yet work for diverse ends? Yea those whose thoughts intend t'attend the state, Have purchased powers, being purposed for the fields, With jealous minds their rivals bent t'abate, Whilst lls all, now none t'another yields. Yet with suspended thoughts all doubtful stand, And their designs accomplish do forbear, Lest all the rest joined by a general band, March him overthrow that first gives cause of fear. But he may prosper best whom burning thirst Of government enflames at first advance: Some to be second, doubting to be first, Will make their Hope's depend upon his chance. And by a battle when that one prevails, There will ich Hope's at a'easie rate be sold: For of that faction first whose fortune fails, Even all will strive who shall be first to fold. All this to me great cause of fear affords, I est that we two protract the to me too long: And wounded be before we draw our swords, If those we not prevent that would us wrong. Of those in whom he did suspect a spirit, Whose courage served his courses to resist, He hath himself by diverse means made quite, In others wreaks his safety does consist. Thus martial Pithon that no danger sparde, Whom Alexander held in high account: Did at the last receive a hard reward, For helping him Eumenes to surmount. His spirit t'attemp and pour fit to perform. Made jealousy Antigonus torment: And yet he feigned to love him for the form, Till that his court he moou'de him to frequent: Where while he did mistrusting nought abide, He publicly in all the peoples sighed: (Though seeming justly) damned injustly died, No viler wrong then wrong that looks Like right. Thus diverse governors within short space, Their government, or then their life have lost: And others are preferred unto their place, That did depend upon his favour most. Oft likewise me, he laboured to surprise, And policy was used, to-have me overthrown: But I, whom Pithons danger had made wise, Learned by his ruin to prevent mine own. To save my life abandoned is my state, And I have fled with danger as you see, That you may know, how that man does grow great, Whose pride may plague you all, as well as me.